Miami Open 2024: Elena Rybakina vs Taylor Townsend preview, head-to-head, prediction, live streaming details

Published at :March 23, 2024 at 5:47 PM

Modified at :March 23, 2024 at 5:47 PM

(Courtesy : News18/WTA)

This is the first meeting between both players.

Elena Rybakina will face Taylor Townsend in the round of 32 at Miami Open 2024, which takes place on Sunday. Seeded fourth at Miami, Rybakina staged a comeback victory in her second-round match at the Miami Open. On Thursday, she defeated Danish qualifier Clara Tauson 3-6, 7-5, 6-4, taking their head-to-head record to 2-0. Rybakina, who was the runner-up at Miami last year, finished the match against the 91st-ranked Tauson in 2 hours and 27 minutes.

She hit 47 winners in her match against Tauson, denying the latter a spot in the third round. This victory marks the 24-year-old’s 18th win of the season, second only to Iga Swiatek three months into the new season.

Rybakina had a strong start this season, clinching titles in Brisbane and Abu Dhabi, and reaching the finals in Doha. She won 15 of the first 18 matches played in the 2024 season. However, the Kazakh, known for her injury issues, withdrew from two consecutive events – from the third round in Dubai and Indian Wells just before her scheduled first-round match.

American Taylor Townsend secured her place in the round of 32 against Rybakina with victories over Lucia Bronzetti and Elise Mertens. The world number 11 ended Belgian Elise Mertens’ journey in Miami with a swift 6-2, 6-2 win in just 78 minutes. Now, she has the opportunity to reach the fourth round of a WTA 1000 event for the first time in her career.

Elena Rybakina vs Taylor Townsend preview

Rybakina, who has never lost before the third round in Miami, delivered a gritty performance to overturn Clara Tauson after losing the first set. The Kazakh is currently tied with Emma Navarro for most wins this season, each with 18 victories. Rybakina, with her 128 aces in 2024, is second only to Karolina Pliskova, who leads with 151 aces.

Townsend, a left-hander, advanced through the qualifiers and secured a spot in the third round, equalling her best result at Miami since 2017 when she also reached the third round. She hopes to surpass this record this year when she steps onto the court for her third-round match against Rybakina.

The American has now qualified for back-to-back WTA 1000 events. She reached the third round at Indian Wells but was narrowly defeated by Anna Kalinskaya in three sets, 5-7, 6-3, 4-6. Townsend’s victory over Mertens will catapult her back into the top 70-player bracket on the tour—a position she last held in October 2023. Her career-high ranking is No. 61, which she achieved in July 2018.

Head-to-head records

Matches – 0

Elena Rybakina – 0

Taylor Townsend – 0

Rybakina and Townsend will cross paths for the first time in their careers when their round three face-off at the Miami Open gets underway. Rybkina heads into their game with an appearance in the 2023 final behind her, while Townsend’s best result is her round of 32 appearance against Svetlana Kuznetsova in 2017.

Where and how to watch the live streaming and TV broadcast of the third-round match between Elena Rybakina and Taylor Townsend at the 2024 Miami Open in India?

The WTA 1000 Miami Open is broadcast in India on the Tennis Channel. WTA TV, the official broadcaster, will also host the third-round match between Elena Rybakina and Taylor Townsend on their platform.

The third-round match between Elena Rybakina and Taylor Townsend will take place on Saturday, 23rd March, in the Grandstand. The game is scheduled for 8:30 PM local time or 4:30 AM (IST) on Sunday for Indian viewers.

Prediction

Townsend sailed through the qualifiers, dashing Elise Merten’s hopes of advancing at Miami with a straight-set victory. The American converted four out of five breakpoint opportunities and won 76% of her first serve points (26/34).

Her performance should sound the alarm for Rybakina in her face-off with Townsend. A competitive match is anticipated as Townsend can rely on her aggressive style of play, while Rybakina can counter with her powerful serves and delicate touches. The Kazakh should be able to keep the local player at bay in her quest for consecutive finals at Miami.

In the lead-up to their head-to-head match, Rybakina has won 81.7% of her service games, while her opponent has won 65.5%. Rybakina also has an advantage over Townsend in the first service points won category, with a winning percentage of 71.9% compared to the latter’s 61.9%.

The percentage of breakpoints saved, a useful measure of a player’s performance under pressure, also leans in favor of Rybakina. The Kazakh has successfully saved 62.6% of breakpoints faced compared to Townsend’s 48.2%. The World No. 4 maintains this trend in breakpoints converted – 47.3% compared to the American’s 32.9%.

Result: Rybakina to win in three sets.

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